Latch



M. NEWELL LATCH Filed Oct. 28, 1943 wherein:

Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED. STATES" PATENT/OFFICE PATCH t v Frank M. Newell, Lowell, Mich. I Q I Application October 28, 1943; SerialNo. 08,i'l10- 4 2 Claims. (01. 292-236) 'This invention relates to latches and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in con nection with a swinging closure such a a screen door or the like.

Primarily it is an object of the invention to provide a latch of this kind including a freely movable swinging bolt normally maintaining by gravity its eifective'positio'n, together with means coacting with the bolt to move'the same into re--- in either direction for moving the bolt into its released or ineffective position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a latch of this kind including a freely swinging bolt, together with means operable at will to move the bolt into released or ineffective position and wherein further means are'provided' for holding the bolt againstsuch movement.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange ment of the several parts of my improved latch whereby certain important advanta es are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better uhwith' reference to the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a view partly insection and partly in elevation illustrating a latch structure embodying the invention, a second position of certain of the parts beingindicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein illustrated, C denotes a casing of desired dimensions and configuration and which has each of its side plates I provided with suitably positioned openings 2 whereby the casing may be effectively secured by screws 20' or otherwise as desired upon a swinging closure, such as a screen door. However, the manner of applying the structure in its detail forms no particular part of the invention.

Disposed transversely through the casing C is a, spindle 3 adapted to be rotated in either directhroughwhiCh projects the forwardportion of the elongated flat'boltl. The rear portion'oif this bolt I, or the extremity thereof within the casing C, is pivotally mounted upon the pin 8 .derstood, I will now proceed to describe the same Q tion through the medium of the conventional or the like carried by and bridging the space between the side plates I. Thismounting of the bolt 1 allows the same to have free "swinging movement and'the downward swinging movement-of the bolt! is limited by contact of said bolt 1 with the lower margin of the slotli and the position of the slot 6 is such that when the bolt 1 is in'its lowermost position, it is substantially horizontal. V j

Mounted on the spindle 3 for rotation there'- vvith and immediately to the rear of the bolt l is a plate 9. The lower front portion of the plate 9 is provided with a forwardly directed elongated arm [0 of a length to extend below the bolt 1 and terminate in advance of the pivot pin 8.' The outer extremity of this am H1 is provided with an upstanding lug II for contact from below with i 'sition relative to the striker with which said bolt coacts. As the striker forms no part of the present invention and'may be of any type preferred, a description and illustration thereof is believed unnecessary, j

The bolt 1 at its inner end and at the lower portion thereof is provided with a rearwardly disposed tail-piece l2 which is entirely rearward- 1y of the pivotal mounting '8. Thistail-pie'ce l2 underlies a forwardly disposed lug l4 carried by the plate 9 sothat when the "spindle 3 isrocked forwardly and downwardly, contact of the lug I4 with the tail-piece [2 will also rock the bolt 1 into a released or ineffective position. The arm l0 and the lug l4 are spaced apart a distance suf'ficient to allow the desired upward swinging movement of the projected or working end portion of the bolt 1 and the rear edge I5 of the bolt 1 above the tail-piece I 2 is disposed on an n upward and forwardcurvature to allow unobstructed swinging movement of the bolt 1.

The bolt 1 maintains its lowered horizontal or effective or working position by gravity yet the mounting thereof is such as to readily allow the same to ride into the conventional striker as the door with which the latch structure is employed swings into closed position, thereby eliminating the objection often met with in latch structures now generally in use. To assure this normally free movement of the bolt I, the arm in and the lug It must also be normally maintained in substantially a horizontal position. In the present embodiment of the invention, this'maintenance of the arm and the lug i4 is accomplished by a bow spring 16 having a central portion a extending inwardly between and contacting with the vertically spaced lug I! extending rearwardly from the plate 9. The extremities of the bow,

spring I6 are flexed, as at b, to have direct contact with the inner faces of the top and bottom walls l8iof thelcasing C.

The top wall t}! dfithe casingC is provided with a suitably positioned slot I 9 disposed lengthwise thereof and through which extends the shank of an operating button 2| or the like. This shank 20 is anchored to a slide 22 underlying the top wall l8 of'theoasing Cand in close contact therewith and the forward extremity 'of the slide 22 is provided wither :dependingarm 23. This arm 23,. as herein disclosed, is straight and of a length to closely approach the upper :edge ;of the .bolt =1 when the slide :22- is .in .its 'iforwar'd Lposition, wherebyrthe built I iisi'effectively held :or ilocked iagainst upward swinging move- :ment into released DI iIIEfiBCtiYB ,position.

.The @5101; LI 9 lissso located .that when .the ;shank ill-of the button ,2! is at .theilimihofits move- -mentrearwardlyof the slot L5, thearm 23 will be .rearwardly .of .the .rear-curved edge 45 of .the belt I! and the .lug [4, so that the arm .23 will -.o'fier =no hindrance .or-obstruotion to .the .upward swinging movement of the bolt 1, undertheaction .of ,the .arm 40. lIlhe Iforward -edge 424 .of xthe dug II is upwardly and rearwardly beveled,;thus.-assuring ,rsufiicient wlearance for the downward swinging movement of the lug .M to also effect .the desired maising (or llifting movement .of .the rbfilti'l.

From Tithe ioregoing description it is thought ;to be obvious .thatai latch -constructed limaccord- 'ance with my invention is particularly \well .adaptediorusebyreasonnf\theconvenienceand facility with which it -may .he assembled and operated.

'WllatJisrclaimediis:

'1. :AJatch :stnuoture comprising a hasing ihav- 'ing ;a in a wall .thereo'f, .a bolt within the casingandhxtendingcout-thmughisaidsslot means sfonmounting .the extremity of the .bolt within the casing to allow'the'bolt'to have freeswinging .movement, la spindle carried iby .and lextending ithroug'h \the casing, a dilate within the :ca's'in and ion the for turning movement therewith, ;a forwardly arm carried by the plate for contact from below with the bolt at a point in advance of the mounting of the bolt, said bolt having a tail-piece extending rearwardly of its mounting, a forwardly dis- 5 posed lug carried by the plate for contact from above with the tail-piece to provide further means for swinging the bolt, said arm and lug being spaced apart a distance to permit free swinging movement of the bolt when said arm 10 andlugaredn intermediate ,positlon,.rearwardly disposed ispacedlugs carried by :theplate, and a bow spring within the casing and having an intermediate portion extending between said rearwardly disposed lugs of the plate and coacting .15 therewith to normally maintain the forwardly directed arm and lug of the plate in said intermediate'position.

2. Alatchsstructure comprising a relatively flat casing having a slot in an edge wall thereof,

.20 apivdt pin extending transversely of the casing perpendicular to and :spaced from said wall, a bolt member pivotallyesupportedeatronecend@upon said ,pin .and having .its other end 'extended .through -.the slot; the ,said one send ao'f the bolt 25 member upon the side of the pin iremote from said wall diavinga longitudinally extending tailpiece, the tail-piece :having an 1 upwardly directed flat surface l-yingintheplaneof \theilongitudinal center .of the -bolt-aspindle:c'arrie'd .byand extending transversely through the acasing in-said plane, a fiat plate havingrsaidespindleextending therethrough and .having alugextending .from .an fedge I adjacent to said .tailepiece and disposed over and .normally hontactinglthe .said .top -surlace of .the 128117431808, .21, substantially .straight .the :side of the ,pivot ,pin .remoteiirom the first 111g, .the lowler edge of ,the .bolt tail-piece being spaced from said varm a distance -sufiicient to permit free oscillation of the rtail-lpiece with the bolt, in one direction, rindependentlylof the plate,

.means.for oscillatingithe platens, pair oft-spaced lugs formed integral .with a sverticalredge of the plate opposite irom the first ,mentioned .lug, -and a 'howlspring interposed between the ,pair of .lugs and .an adjacent .walho'f the .casing .and lhaving a portion extended between the pairlof lugs to normally maintain .the plate in :an inoperative position with respect to thebolt. 

